Investigate, scrutinise and understand the causes and consequences of crime.

An interdisciplinary programme of study and a broad range of staff expertise.

Examines crime, justice and punishment at local, national and transnational levels of society.

A theoretical, empirical and applied education in Criminology to develop your knowledge and skills.

Turn on the television, open a newspaper or web browser and you’re very likely to encounter images, reports and programmes about crime, justice and punishment. Crime saturates media and popular culture, suggesting an enduring public fascination with wrongdoing and its consequences as well as being an ongoing social problem.

But what is the background story to these representations of crime? Criminology tells it through exploring causes, motivation and patterns of criminal conduct. In addition to improving our knowledge and understanding of crime, criminology also informs policies and practices of policing, law, criminal justice and punishment.

What you'll learn

Overview

Criminologists study crime from a variety of approaches making this a diverse field of study – you’ll look at the problem of crime from different angles and perspectives. Core modules will provide you with knowledge of the main theories, debates, issues and research problems in criminology and criminal justice; while optional modules enable you to develop particular interests.

We’ll support and encourage you to gain practical experience in relevant fields through voluntary work and placements. You’ll develop practical and analytical skills as well as subject knowledge in crime and criminal justice.

Course structure

Year oneYou’ll learn about the research traditions of criminology and be introduced to key concepts, theories and issues. You’ll investigate different types of crime such as property crime, sexual and violent crime, homicide, corporate crime, anti-social behaviour and drug use. You’ll also learn about criminal law and criminal justice agencies and institutions.

Optional modules will increase your understanding of psychological and social dimensions of crime. You’ll study models of individual personality and behaviour, and visualise and analyse key sources of social science data. You’ll also study a complementary subject.

Year twoYou’ll study contemporary debates in criminology and criminal justice, and the psychology of crime, as well as training in research methods and crime mapping techniques.

You can select from a number of optional modules, to create a programme tailored to your personal interests. You can investigate the ecology of crime, delve more deeply into the social divisions associated with crime, justice and punishment or explore crime in the media and popular culture.

Year threeYou’ll undertake an original piece of criminological research in an area which interests you along with comparative study of criminal justice and penality in a global context.

Again, you can select from a range of modules, a number of which highlight the global dimensions of crime and justice. There will be opportunities to undertake a voluntary placement in an organisation relevant to the criminal justice sector.

How will I be assessed?

We use a range of assessments to gain a comprehensive measure of your performance. Assignments may include essays, book reviews, examinations, portfolios, creative work, contributions to online resources, presentations, reports, in-class tests, reflective writing and individual and group projects.

How will I be taught?

We take pride in our innovative and engaging modules that inspire and challenge, as well as encourage you to reflect critically on your subject.

We’ll guide you through your studies, give you support and help you make the most of your academic studies. Your personal timetable will comprise all the modules for which you have been registered and these incorporate different modes of teaching.

You’ll participate in a wide variety of activities including lectures, seminars, workshops, one-to-one tutorials, and sessions with visiting speakers.

Opportunities

Work placements, industry links and internships

We’ll strongly encourage you to take advantage of placement opportunities in your second and third year, so you can apply your learning in the real world contexts of criminal justice. Practitioners contribute to teaching in some modules and you can find out more from them about working in fields related to criminal justice. Field trips, such as to local courts, will also provide opportunities to observe the legal system in action and learn more about potential careers. We also have links with local criminal justice organisations including local police services and prisons.

Projects

Project work enables you to focus on your particular interests and is built into all three years of the programme. Through individual and group projects you’ll develop employment-related skills in research, analysis, time management, leadership, problem-solving and planning.

Your first year involves a project with creative, critical and reflective elements. Moving into your second year, you’ll undertake in-depth study of the spatial dimensions of crime and learn digital crime-mapping using ARC-GIS software. A module in research methods will give you experience of research design and data collection and analysis to support project work. In the dissertation core module in your third year, you can apply the knowledge and skills you’ve developed to an independent research project on any criminological or criminal justice topic that interests you.

Careers

A qualification in Criminology will prepare you for a career in a variety of relevant fields in criminal justice and associated social and welfare professions including:

Policing

Crime prevention and security

Crime reduction initiatives

Law

Offender management and interventions

Prisons

Probation

Youth justice

Social work

Community development

As a social sciences degree, the course will give you with a range of transferable skills which you can take into a career in a number of others sectors such as health and social care, marketing, HR, teaching or the media.

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

Resources

All modules can be found on our Virtual Learning Environment, Minerva, providing unlimited online access to learning materials such as handbooks, lecture slides, assessment information, discussion boards and other resources.

Our library gives you access to books, academic journals and DVDs and an extensive range of electronic services. It also provides a place for individual study and collaborative work.

Fees

UK and EU students full time

2018/19 Entry

Course fees

Year 1

£9,250

Year 2

Published Jan 2019

Year 3

Published Jan 2020

2019/20 Entry

Course fees

Year 1

Published Jan 2019

Year 2

Published Jan 2020

Year 3

Published Jan 2021

2020/21 Entry

Course fees

Year 1

Published Jan 2020

Year 2

Published Jan 2021

Year 3

Published Jan 2022

UK and EU students full time - with placement year

During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee. Otherwise, fees are the same as for full time study.

International students full time

2018/19 Entry

Course fees

Year 1

£12,900

Year 2

Published Jan 2019

Year 3

Published Jan 2020

2019/20 Entry

Course fees

Year 1

Published Jan 2019

Year 2

Published Jan 2020

Year 3

Published Jan 2022

2020/21 Entry

Course fees

Year 1

Published Jan 2020

Year 2

Published Jan 2021

Year 3

Published Jan 2022

Interested in applying?

What we look for in potential students

We’re looking for individuals who are interested in all aspects of crime, justice and punishment. You’ll be looking to study these issues in a multidisciplinary way, that challenges conventional or ‘common sense’ notions of criminality.

Typical offers

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below:

A Level - Grades BCC - CCC accepted

BTEC - Extended Diploma grades Merit,. Merit, Merit (MMM) accepted.

International Baccalaureate - A minimum of 26 points are required

Access to HE courses - Typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, including 30 at merit or higher).

English Language Requirements for International and EU ApplicantsIELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

How do I apply?

Ready to apply? Click the 'apply now' button in the centre of this page.

A course for individuals interested in social issues, who want to help make the world a better place.

In our fast-changing world, Sociology is exciting, relevant and provides important skills.

Sociology helps you become more informed and to think smarter.

You’ll learn how to think creatively, to problems solve and make better decisions.

Do you want to know more about the world we live in? Do you care about the world and want to make a difference? If so, you’re well-suited to this Sociology course.

Sociology is the study of societies, cultures, and groups. We live in complex societies with laws and informal rules that govern how we interact. Sociology helps you to understand more about yourself, others and the way society is organised.

“Sociology helps me piece things together and see the world how it really is. The campus at Bath Spa is beautiful! It’s a really peaceful place to think and the lecturers are passionate about what they teach.”

Kirsty Taylor, Sociology student

What you'll learn

Overview

You’re taught about society, social groups and social organisation. You’ll learn about social problems and social policies. You’ll be able to make sense of social change and conflict. You’ll have a good understanding of social differences, inequalities and social divisions. You’ll be able to apply your knowledge and skills to specific problems and issues to help you to be good decision-maker.

Course structure

Year oneYou’ll be introduced to Sociology as well as to the techniques and philosophies of the social sciences. You will focus on identities – starting out thinking about your own identity then building your knowledge and understanding so that you are more familiar with social divisions, social structures and the influence of culture. You’ll also learn how to visualise the most important components of society.

Year twoThe second year builds on the first and enables you to begin to learn about the history and important ideas in Sociology. You can also specialise in more specific areas of Sociology such as education and crime. You’ll undertake practical training in research skills. This will enable you to complete your final year project as well as preparing you for the kind of employment that you’ll typically undertake as a sociology graduate.

Year threeYou’ll concentrate on an aspect of sociology that most interests you in a dissertation, undertaken with the support of a member of staff as a supervisor. You can also focus on more detailed subjects such as globalisation, environment, ethnicity and racism, and gender.

How will I be assessed?

Assessments vary and may include essays, reports, book and article reviews, seen and unseen examinations, web wikis, portfolios, projects, learning journals, individual and group work, videos and screencasts, research projects.

How will I be taught?

You’ll be taught in lectures, seminars individual and group tutorials and through our extensive online learning support environment.

Opportunities

Study abroad

We have opportunities for you to study abroad through our Erasmus+ Sociology links. We also offer you other overseas learning opportunities including an optional international field trip to India in your second year.

Field trips

We run optional visits to places such as criminal justice institutions and religious places of worship. You can take a dedicated field trip module.

Work placements, industry links and internships

We provide support in obtaining placements, links with professionals and we invite our sociology graduates back to meet with you. Optional modules have links with professionals and visiting speakers built into the teaching and learning. This means you’ll learn about the real-world application of what you're learning and make more informed decisions about your future career.

Careers

A Sociology degree is useful for any career that involves working with people, either in the private, public or 'third' sectors, typically:

Management or administration in the public or private sector

Human resource management

Marketing and public relations

Media or journalism

Social work

Youth and community work

Health education or nursing

Law

Policing

Offender management and interventions

Work in the voluntary sector and fundraising

Social research and analytics

Employers such as the National Osteoporosis Society, the Ministry of Defence, Wiltshire Council and Truro College have recruited graduates from this course. Students have also gone into roles including Assistant Education Officer, Student Services Assistant and Relocation Advisor.

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

Sociology is taught at our Newton Park campus. You'll have access to a range of excellent facilities, including:

Access to HE courses - Typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, including 30 at merit or higher).

English Language Requirements for International and EU ApplicantsIELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

How do I apply?

Ready to apply? Click the 'apply now' button in the centre of this page.